Beaver Stadium isn’t the only thing undergoing heavy reconstruction this offseason — Penn State’s defensive line is as well.
It’s no secret Deion Barnes has consistently churned out NFL-caliber talent from his room since taking over in 2023. The latest draft saw defensive end Abdul Carter go No. 3 overall to the New York Giants, while defensive tackles Dvon J-Thomas and Coziah Izzard were signed as undrafted free agents by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, leaving big shoes to fill heading into this season.
Additionally, edge rushers Smith Vilbert and Joseph Mupoyi transferred to North Carolina to join Bill Belichick, despite Vilbert being projected as a major contributor. Throw in defensive end Max Granville’s long-term injury and the line has undergone heavy reconfiguration since the end of last season.
“I’m satisfied with where the depth is. We got some guys that you can roll in a game and close your eyes, you know they’re gonna make a play,” Barnes said on Tuesday. “Them dudes have developed over these last 16, 17 practices, and they’ve done a good job of fixing mistakes, not repeating the same mistakes, and they’re starting to come into their own.”
Despite the turnover, Penn State’s coaching staff is confident in the development of younger players and the skillsets of new additions, giving them options to turn to heading into the fall. The biggest obstacle will be figuring out how to sort the pieces, something the team’s first three games will be useful for.
James Franklin said the Nittany Lions are “planning on playing a bunch of guys to create depth, but also evaluate them” in home contests against Nevada, FIU and Villanova.
Defensive tackle
Defensive tackle Zane Durant is an established starter, but defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. is expected to step into a starting role alongside him this season.
Ford spent two seasons at Old Dominion before transferring to Penn State, missing all of 2023 with a major injury. In 2024, he played a rotational role and produced 16 tackles before another injury to end the year. At Penn State’s local media day, Ford said he’s back to 100%.
“I just got to keep improving throughout the day, I mean, it never stops,” Ford said. “Improvement never stops. So, I mean, I just got to keep working, just running every day.”
Behind Durant and Ford, there’s a significant dropoff in career snaps, but Barnes listed redshirt sophomore Ty Blanding, who has just three tackles at the college level, as someone who will get playing time this season.
“Ty Blanding, quick, can jump off the ball, and then he’s strong too,” Barnes said. “He’s starting to understand the blocks better. As a D-tackle, it’s all about your eyes and your feet. And now he’s starting to get all that stuff down.”
To help fill the void, Penn State brought in defensive tackle Owen Wafle after he spent his freshman season at Michigan.
“Wafle is the guy that’s really been a nice addition for us as playing some really good football,” Franklin said. “So I think he factors in and those next couple guys, there’s a battle.”
Behind them, Franklin offered praise for several younger players, saying Randy Adirika and De’Andre Cook are “doing some good things.”
Defensive end
Dani Dennis-Sutton is all but guaranteed to start, and Zuriah Fisher is expected to man the role opposite him. Redshirt freshman Jaylen Harvey provides solid depth behind them.
Texas A&M transfer Enai White was expected to factor into the two-deep, but he recently slid inside to defensive tackle. That transition could clear the way for freshmen Yvan Kemajou and Chaz Coleman to make an impact, with Franklin listing them as two of the three freshmen who could make an immediate impact this season. This is likely due to a combination of their impressive fall camps and an overall lack of proven commodities at the position.
Though he’s not expected to factor in yet, Barnes also said four-star defensive end Daniel Jennings has also impressed despite only arriving on campus in late July.
“He’s aggressive, he’s powerful and he’s violent. You can do something with that … he’s a kid that he’s willing to learn,” Barnes said. “You know, got some guys in front of him, but he’s doing everything he can to be able to show what he got.”
